Tine assembly for a cultivator

ABSTRACT

A tine assembly for a cultivator includes a first tine member having a plurality of radially extending non-planar tines. At least two tines on each tine member differ in shape from the remaining tines. The tine assembly may include a second tine member which is shaped like a mirror-image of the first tine member. When assembled on a shaft, the second tine member is off-set from the first tine member so that tines on alternating tine members contact the ground as the shaft rotates.

This application claims priority to a divisional U.S. Ser. No.10/012,262, filed Dec. 4, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,523,618 B2, which isincorporated herein by reference, which claims priority from a utilityapplication having U.S. Ser. No. 09/515,337, filed on Feb. 29, 2000, nowU.S. Pat. No. 6,767,561 B1, which is incorporated herein by reference,which claims priority from a provisional application having U.S. Ser.No. 60/158,678, filed Oct. 8, 1999, which is incorporated herein byreference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention pertains to the art of methods and apparatuses forcultivators, tine assemblies for a cultivator, and tine members of atine assembly, and more specifically to the construction and arrangementof tines on a tine member, the arrangement of tine members on one end ofa rotatable cultivator shaft, and the arrangement of tine assemblies onfirst and second ends of a rotatable cultivator shaft.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

U.S. Pat. No. 5,299,647 discloses a tined rotary blade for cultivatorshaving a pair of disk-like members. Each of the disk-like membersincludes a plurality of tines, specifically ten, projecting radiallyoutwardly from a central region. The plurality of tine encompass 3 firsttines which are each characterized by a simple curve whose free endportion is directed toward a common plane between the disk-like members.The plurality of tines further includes 3 second tines which are eachcharacterized by a compound curve wherein one portion of the tine isdirected away from the common plane and another portion of the tine isdirected toward the common plane. The plurality of tines furtherincludes 3 third tines each characterized by a simple curve whose freeend portion is directed away from the common plane. Lastly, theplurality of tines includes 1 fourth, planar tine which is orientedparallel to the common plane. Therefore, each disk-like member includesten tines which are circumferentially displaced 36°. The tines on onedisk-like member are offset from corresponding tines on the seconddisk-like member by 18°.

The addition of the fourth tine to the disk-like member is purportedlyan improvement over other disk-like members known in the art whichcomprise nine tines having configurations similar to the first, secondand third tines discussed above.

A rototiller with angularly disposed teeth is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.4,346,764. This rototiller has tines which include a first tooth fixedto one portion of the tine and a second tooth fixed to a second portionof the tine wherein the second portion is angularly disposed in relationto the first portion.

Other tine arrangements are set forth in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,421,176;4,467,874; 4,658,910; and 4,133,390.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, a tine member is provided foruse on the rotatable shaft of an associated cultivator.

Also in accordance with the invention, a tine assembly including a pairof tine members is provided for use on the rotatable shaft of anassociated cultivator.

Also in accordance with the invention, a cultivator using one to fourtine members and any combination thereof is provided.

According to one aspect of the invention, a tine member comprises a hubincluding a base having a central bore through which the rotatable shaftextends and a rim disposed about the base and lying in a first plane, P,and a plurality of tines, each of the tines projecting generallyradially outward from the rim, and wherein each tine includes a leadingedge, a trailing edge, and a tip, the plurality of tines including afirst tine characterized by a series of notches formed in the leadingedge thereof.

According to another aspect of the invention, the first tine is bent ata first angle, α₁, relative to plane P.

According to another aspect of the invention, the tine member includestwo of the first tines.

According to another aspect of the invention, one of the first tines isbent at a first angle, α₁, relative to plane P, and the other first tineis bent generally at an equal and opposite angle, α₂, relative to planeP.

According to another aspect of the invention, the tips of the firsttines are circumferentially offset by substantially 180°.

According to another aspect of the invention, the plurality of tinesfurther includes a second tine characterized by a generally planar shankportion lying in plane P and a bent end portion.

According to another aspect of the invention, the plurality of tinesfurther includes two second tines wherein the end portion of one of thesecond tines is bent at an angle β₁ relative to plane P, and the endportion of the other second tine is bent at a substantially equal andopposite angle β₂ relative to plane P.

According to another aspect of the invention, the tip of one of thesecond tines is circumferentially offset by substantially 90° relativeto the tip of one of the first tines.

According to another aspect of the invention, the tips of the secondtines are circumferentially offset by substantially 180°.

According to another aspect of the invention, the plurality of tinesfurther includes a third tine characterized by a curved shank.

According to another aspect of the invention, the tine member includesfirst and second pairs of third tines wherein the shank of each of thefirst pair of third tines is generally curved in a first directionrelative to plane P and the shank of each of the second pair of thirdtines is generally curved in an opposite direction relative to plane P.

According to another aspect of the invention, the tips of the first pairof third tines are circumferentially offset by substantially 90° and thetips of the second pair of third tines are circumferentially offset bysubstantially 90°.

According to another aspect of the invention, the tip of one of thefirst pair of third tines is circumferentially offset from the tip ofone of the second pair of third tines substantially 180°.

According to another aspect of the invention, the tips of adjacent tinesare circumferentially offset by substantially 45°.

According to another aspect of the invention, the tines are disposed inthe sequence of one of the first tines, one of the first pair of thirdtines, one of the second tines, the other one of the first pair of thirdtines, the other first tine, one of the second pair of third tines, theother second tine, and the other one of the second pair of third tines.

According to another aspect of the invention, the base of the tinemember is disposed in a plane parallel to and spaced from plane P.

According to another aspect of the invention, one of the first tines isbent at an angle toward the plane of the base and the other first tineis bent at an angle away from the plane of the base.

According to another aspect of the invention, the bent end portion ofone of the second tines is disposed toward the plane of the base and thebent end portion of the other second tine is disposed away from theplane of the base.

According to another aspect of the invention, the shanks of each of thefirst pair of third tines is curved toward the plane of the base and theshanks of each of the second pair of third tines is curved away from theplane of the base.

According to another aspect of the invention, a tine assembly isprovided for mounting on the rotatable shaft of an associatedcultivator. The tine assembly comprises a first tine member including ahub having a generally planar base having a central bore through whichthe associated shaft extends and a generally planar rim being associatedwith a first plane, P; and, a plurality of tines, each of the tinesprojecting generally radially outward from the rim, and wherein eachtine includes a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a tip, the pluralityof tines including a first tine characterized by a series of notchesformed in the leading edge thereof, a second tine member having astructure essentially similar to an image formed by reflection of thefirst tine member in a mirror placed parallel to the base whereby thesecond tine member includes a corresponding hub having a generallyplanar base having a central bore through which the associated shaftextends and a generally planar rim; and a plurality of correspondingtines projecting radially outward from the rim, and wherein each tineincludes a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a tip, the plurality ofcorresponding tines including a first tine characterized by a series ofnotches formed in a leading edge thereof; and, means for mounting thefirst and second tine members onto the shaft in a predetermined relativeposition.

According to another aspect of the invention, the tips of correspondingtines on the first and second tine members are circumferentially offsetby at least 22.5°.

According to another aspect of the invention, the tips of correspondingtines on the first and second tine members are circumferentially offsetby at least 90°.

According to another aspect of the invention, the mounting meanscomprises a first adapter having a body with an axial opening, a planarfirst surface, an opposite planar second surface, and an axial flangeextending from the first surface through the central bore of the firsttine member; and, a second adapter having a body with an axial opening,a planar first surface, an opposite planar second surface, an axialflange extending from the first surface through the central bore of thesecond tine member, and an axial spacer extending from the secondsurface through the axial opening of the first adapter.

According to another aspect of the invention, the body of the firstadapter is generally triangular and the body of the second adapter isgenerally triangular and the apices of the triangular body of the firstadapter are offset from the apices of the triangular body of the secondadapter by approximately 60°.

According to another aspect of the invention, the mounting means furthercomprises first means for mounting the first adapter to the first tinemember, the first means extending through the apices of the triangularbody of the first adapter; and, second means for mounting the secondadapter to the second tine member, the second means extending throughthe apices of the triangular body of the second adapter.

According to another aspect of the invention, a cultivator is providedincluding powering means and transmission means for transferring powerfrom the powering means to a rotatable shaft which rotates about anaxis. The cultivator comprises:

a first tine assembly positioned at a first end of the shaft, the firsttine assembly including a first tine member, a second tine member, andfirst means for mounting the first and second tine members to the shaftin a predetermined relative position wherein the first tine membercomprises a hub including a generally planar base having a central borethrough which the shaft extends and a generally planar rim beingassociated with a plane P and a plurality of tines, each of the tinesprojecting generally radially outward from the rim, and wherein eachtine includes a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a tip, the pluralityof tines including a first tine characterized by a series of notchesformed in the leading edge thereof; and wherein the second tine memberhas a structure essentially similar to an image formed by reflection ofthe first tine member in a mirror place parallel to the base whereby thesecond tine member includes a hub having a generally planar base havinga central bore through which the shaft extends and a generally planarrim, and a plurality of corresponding tines projecting generallyradially outward from the rim, and wherein each tine includes a leadingedge, a trailing edge and a tip, the plurality of corresponding tinesincluding a first tine characterized by a series of notches form in theleading edge thereof; and,

a second tine assembly positioned at the second end of the shaft, thesecond tine assembly including a third tine member, a fourth tinemember, and second means for mounting the third and fourth tine membersto the shaft in a predetermined relative position wherein the third tinemember is essentially identical in structure to the first tine member,and the fourth tine member is essentially identical in structure to thesecond tine member.

According to another aspect of the invention, the positioning of firsttine assembly on the first end of the shaft is offset by 180° ascompared to the positioning of the second tine assembly on the secondend of the shaft.

According to another aspect of the invention, the first mounting meansincludes a first adapter having a body with an axial opening, a planarfirst surface, an opposite planar second surface, and an axial flangeextending from the first surface through the central bore of the firsttine member; and, a second adapter having a body with an axial opening,a planar first surface, an opposite planar second surface, an axialflange extending from the first surface through the central bore of thesecond tine member, and an axial spacer extending from the secondsurface through the axial opening of the first adapter; and, the secondmounting means includes a third adapter having a body with an axialopening, a planar first surface, an opposite planar second surface, anaxial flange extending from the first surface through the central boreof the third tine member, and an axial spacer extending from the secondsurface; and, a fourth adapter having a body with an axial opening, aplanar first surface, an opposite planar second surface, and, an axialflange extending from the first surface through the central bore of thefourth tine member, wherein the axial spacer of the third adapterextends through the axial opening of the fourth adapter.

One advantage of the present invention is the inclusion of theslasher-type tine on the tine member which provides improved rootcutting.

Another advantage of the present invention is the arrangement of tineson the tine member which provides improved soil break-up.

Another advantage of the present invention is the unique mounting systemwhich allows for eady conversion from the use of one, two, three, orfour tine members on the rotating cultivator shaft.

Still other advantages of the present invention will be apparent tothose skilled in the art after a reading and understanding of thespecification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangement ofparts, a preferred embodiment of which will be described in detail inthis specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings whichform a part hereof and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front partial view of a cultivator having a tine assemblyaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first tine member according to theinvention;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the tine member shown in FIG. 2 taken along thesight line of the arrow;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the tine member shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the tine member shown in FIG. 4 takenalong the line 5—5;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the tine member shown in FIG. 4 takenalong the line 6—6;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the tine member shown in FIG. 4 takenalong the line 7—7;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a second tine member according to theinvention;

FIG. 9 is a first end view of a shaft showing a first tine assemblyaccording to the invention;

FIG. 10 is a second end view of the shaft showing a second tine assemblyaccording to the invention;

FIG. 11 is a first end view of a first adapter;

FIG. 12 is a second end view of the first adapter;

FIG. 13 is a side view of the first adapter shown in FIG. 11 and asecond adapter;

FIG. 14 is a first end view of the second adapter;

FIG. 15 is a second end view of the second adapter;

FIG. 16 is a side view of the second adapter shown in FIG. 14;

FIG. 17 is a partial sectional view of the first tine assembly; and,

FIG. 18 is a partial front view showing a further embodiment of theinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 1-18 are directed to the preferred embodiments of the presentinvention. With particular reference to FIG. 1, the present invention isprovided for use with a cultivating implement referred to generally ascultivator 20. The cultivator 20 employs powering means such as anengine, not shown, and transmission means 24 for transferring the powerfrom the powering means to a rotatable shaft 28 in ways well known inthe art. Shaft 28 rotates about an axis 30. Located near a first end 32of shaft 28 is a first tine assembly 38. A second tine assembly 40 islocated near a second end 42 of shaft 28. The tine assemblies 38, 40 arefixedly secured to shaft 28 and rotatable therewith. In one preferredembodiment, the first tine assembly 38 includes a first tine member 48,a second tine member 52, first adapter 56 and second adapter 58. Thesecond tine assembly 40 also includes a first tine member 48′, a secondtine member 52′, first adapter 56′ and second adapter 58′. The “prime”symbols are utilized because in the preferred embodiment, thecorresponding parts are identical in appearance, but disposed indifferent relative positions on shaft 28, as will be explained infurther detail later in this disclosure.

A preferred embodiment of first tine member 48 will now be describedwith reference to FIGS. 2-7. First tine member 48 includes a cupped hub60 including base 62 having a central bore 64 through which shaft 28extends. When assembled, base 62 is disposed in a plane essentiallyperpendicular to the axis 30 of shaft 28. Axially spaced from base 62 isrim 66 from which extends a plurality of radially disposed tines 70. Rim66 also lies in a plane, P, essentially perpendicular to axis 30.

In the preferred embodiment, tines 70 encompass three different shapes.Slasher tines 72, 74 are identified by series of notches formed in theleading edge 76. Bolo tines 80, 82 are identified by a sharply bent end86. Curved tines 88, 90, 92, and 94 are identified by a gradual curvealong the length of each tine. In the preferred embodiment, there areeight tines 70 radially extending from rim 66 at approximately 45°intervals. In the preferred embodiment, slasher tines 72, 74 aregenerally disposed at 180° to each other. Likewise, bolo tines 80, 82are generally disposed at 180° to each other and 90° to the slashertines 72, 74. Intermediate the slasher tines 72, 74 and the bolo tines80, 82 are the curved tines 88, 90, 92, and 94. For example, in oneembodiment, the order of tines 70 is slasher 72, curved tine 94, bolotine 82, curved tine 92, slasher 74, curved tine 90, bolo tine 80, andcurved tine 88, as best shown in FIG. 4.

With particular reference to FIGS. 3 and 5-7, a preferred configurationof tines is shown. None of the tines lies completely in the plane P thatcontains rim 66. Some of the tines extend “upwardly”, away from base 62,while other tines extend “downwardly”, toward base 62. In the preferredembodiment, one slasher tine, for example slasher 72, extendsdownwardly, while the other slasher tine, for example slasher 74,extends upwardly. Further, in the preferred embodiment, one bolo tine,for example bolo 80, extends upwardly, while the other bolo tine, forexample bolo 82, extends downwardly. Two of the curved tines, forexample curved tines 92 and 94 extend upwardly, and the other two curvedtines, for example 88 and 90 extend downwardly. As shown in thecross-sectional views (FIGS. 5-7) the “upwardly” and “downwardly”extending tines of a given shape are positioned at 180° to each other.There are two such pairs of curved tines, for example curved tine 90extends downwardly and is oppositely positioned to curved tine 94, whichextends upwardly. Likewise, curved tine 88 extends downwardly and isoppositely positioned to curved tine 92 which extends upwardly. Thedescription of a preferred order of the tines 70 can be modified asfollows: slasher 72 (down), curved tine 94 (up), bolo tine 82 (down),curved tine 92 (up), slasher 74 (up), curved tine 90 (down), bolo tine80 (up), and curved tine 88 (down).

As shown in FIG. 5, the slasher tines 72, 74 deviate from plane, P, at aslight angle preferably between ±5° and 15°, most preferably about ±10°.

As shown in FIG. 6, the end 86 of each bolo tine 80, 82 deviates fromplane P at an angle greater than the “slasher angle” and is preferablybetween ±45° and 60°, most preferably between ±50° and 55°.

As shown in FIG. 7, each of the curved tines 88, 90, 92, 94 aregradually curved along its length, L, until the tine forms an angle ofpreferably between ±20° to 45° with plane P, and most preferably between±25° to 35°.

With reference now to FIGS. 1 and 8, second tine member 52 will bedescribed. In the preferred embodiment, second tine member 52 is notidentical to first tine member 48, but is a mirror image thereofreflected in a mirror placed parallel to base 62. For example, cuppedhub 100 would appear to be oppositely oriented than hub 60 and thereflection of bolo 80 (first tine member 48) would be bolo 120 on secondtine member 52. Bolo 120 is therefore classified as extending “upwardly”away from base 102. As best shown in FIG. 1, however, bolo 120 isoriented in an opposite direction to bolo 80 when assembled on shaft 28,because the respective hubs 100 and 60 occupy reversed positions onshaft 28. The preferred order of tines on the second tine member 52 isslasher 114 (down), curved tine 136 (up), bolo tine 124 (down), curvedtine 134 (up), slasher 118 (up), curved tine 128 (down), bolo tine 120(up), and curved tine 132 (down).

With reference to FIG. 9, an end view of first tine assembly 38 isshown. In the preferred embodiment, the relative positioning of firsttine member 48 to second tine member 52 is fixed. The preferredarrangement, shown in FIG. 9, illustrates that second tine member 52occupies a position found by rotation of the reflected image of thefirst tine member 48 through approximately 112.5° in a clockwisedirection, which is approximately {fraction (5/16)} of a circle. Each ofthe tines of second tine member 52 are offset approximately 22.5° fromthe tines of the first tine member 48.

With particular reference to FIGS. 1 and 10, the preferred arrangementof second tine assembly 40 will be described. Third tine member 48′ isidentical in appearance to first tine member 48. Likewise, fourth tinemember 52′ is identical in appearance to second tine member 52. Thefixed positioning of fourth tine member 52′ relative to third tinemember 48′ is likewise identical to the positioning of second tinemember 52 to first tine member 48 in terms of a reflected mirror imagebeing rotated 112.5°. However, on shaft 28, the second tine assembly 40is arranged so that third tine member 48′ is rotated 120° with respectto the first tine member 48 and fourth tine member 52′ is rotated 120°with respect to second tine member 52. The arrangement of third adapter56′ and fourth adapter 58′ will be described later in this disclosure.

An opposite end view showing second tine assembly 40 is given in FIG. 10where members corresponding to like members of first tine assembly 38are denoted by primed reference numerals.

The relative positioning of the tine members 48, 52, with respect toeach other and shaft 28 is provided by first adapter 56 and secondadapter 58. First adapter 56 is best seen in FIGS. 11-13. The preferredembodiment of first adapter 56 includes a triangular body 140 having anaxial opening 142. The opening 142 is generally circular but includes aflattened region 146. A first side of the first adapter 56 includes aflange 148 extending from a generally planar surface 149. In thepreferred embodiment, a second side of the first adapter 56 comprises anessentially planar surface 150. Near the apices of the triangular body140, means are provided for fixedly securing the first adapter 56 tofirst tine member 48 in a predetermined position. In a preferredembodiment, rivets or other fasteners (not shown in these views) extendthrough holes 152 in the triangular body 140 through corresponding holesin the first tine member 48. Flange 148 extends though the central bore64 in the first tine member 48. As will be discussed later in thisdisclosure, the diameter of the generally circular opening 142 isgreater than the diameter of first end 32 of shaft 28.

With reference to FIGS. 14-16, second adapter 58 also includes atriangular body 154 with axial opening 156. One side of body 154includes flange 158 extending from a generally planar surface 160. Theaxial opening 156 includes a flattened region 157 and is dimensioned toreceive first end 32 of shaft 28. The opposite side of body 154 includesa spacer 164 extending from a generally planar surface 168. Spacer 164is dimensioned to be received through axial opening 142 in first adapter56, as best illustrated in FIG. 13, including a flat surface 170 whichmates with the flattened region 146 of opening 142. Near the apices ofbody 154 means are provided for fixedly securing the second adapter 58to second tine member 52 in a predetermined position in a manner similarto that described above with reference to first adapter 56 and firsttine member 48.

FIG. 17 shows a preferred arrangement of first tine assembly 38 on thefirst end 32 of shaft 28. As illustrated, the dimension of shaft 28 isreduced at first end 32 due to a flattened surface 172 which mates withflattened region 157 in the axial opening 156 of spacer 164. In apreferred embodiment, pin member 180 secures first tine assembly 38 toshaft 28, although other fastening means can be employed within thescope of the present invention.

With reference to FIG. 1, adapter 56 is adjacent first tine member 48which is located on the first outside end of cultivator 20. At thesecond outside end a similar adapter 56′ is utilized to hold fourth tinemember 52′ on second end 42 of shaft 28. In this way, the adapters 58,58′ with the spacers 164, 164′ are located axially inwardly of theadapters 56, 56′ on each end of shaft 28. This design allows for theremoval of one or two tine members during operation of the cultivator 20without the need for changing the fastening means. FIG. 18 shows thesecond end 42 of the shaft 28 with only third tine member 48′. Thecultivator can be operated with one, two, three or four tine members inplace. The design of the shaft ends 32, 42, and adapters 56, 56′, 58,58′ prevent an operator from mis-placing the various parts on the shaft28.

With reference again to FIGS. 1 and 9, the first tine assembly 38rotates in the direction of the arrow A. As shown, the ground will becontacted by tines on alternating tine members. For example, in thispreferred embodiment, starting with slasher 72, the order of contactwould be: first tine member (ftm) slasher 72 (down), second tine member(stm) curved tine 128 (down), ftm curved tine 88 (down), stm 118 (up),ftm bolo tine 80 (up), stm curved tine 134 (up) ftm curved tine 90(down), stm bolo tine 124 (down), ftm slasher 74 (up), stm curved tine136 (up), ftm curved tine 92 (up), stm slasher 114 (down), ftm bolo tine82 (down), stm curved tine 132 (down), ftm curved tine 94 (up), and stmbolo 120 (up). Because of the arrangement of the tine members 48, 52 onshaft 28, when assembled, the term “up” means the tines of one tinemember are angled away from the other tine member and the term “down”means that the tines of one tine member are angled toward the other tinemember. As shaft 28 rotates, both tine assemblies 38, 40 rotate. In thepreferred embodiment, bolo 80′ contacts the ground in sync with slasher72. The order of contact of the tines of second tine assembly 40 isreadily apparent from FIG. 10.

The invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiment.Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon areading and understanding of this specification. It is intended toinclude all such modifications and alternations in so far as they comewithin the scope of the appended claims or the equivalence thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A cultivator including powering means andtransmission means for transferring power from the powering means to arotatable shaft which rotates about an axis, the cultivator comprising:a first tine assembly positioned at a first end of the shaft, the firsttine assembly including a first tine member, a second tine member, andfirst means for mounting the first and second tine members to the shaftin a first predetermined relative position wherein: the first tinemember comprises a hub including a generally planar base having acentral bore through which the shaft extends and a generally planar rimbeing associated with a plane P and a plurality of tines, each of thetines projecting generally radially outward from the rim, and whereineach tine includes a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a tip, theplurality of tines including a first tine characterized by a series ofnotches formed in the leading edge thereof, and, wherein: the secondtine member has a structure essentially similar to an image formed byreflection of the first tine member in a mirror place parallel to thebase whereby the second tine member includes a hub having a generallyplanar base having a central bore through which the shaft extends and agenerally planar rim, and a plurality of corresponding tines projectinggenerally radially outward from the rim, and wherein each tine includesa leading edge, a trailing edge and a tip, the plurality ofcorresponding tines including a first tine characterized by a series ofnotches form in the leading edge thereof, and, a second tine assemblypositioned at the second end of the shaft, the second tine assemblyincluding a third tine member, a fourth tine member, and second meansfor mounting the third and fourth tine members to the shaft in a secondpredetermined relative position wherein: the third tine member isessentially identical in structure to the first tine member, and thefourth tine member is essentially identical in structure to the secondtine member.
 2. The cultivator of claim 1 wherein: the first relativeposition of corresponding tines of the first and second tine members ofthe first tine assembly is generally the same as the second relativeposition of corresponding tines of the third and fourth tine members ofthe second tine assembly, and wherein: the first tine assembly at thefirst end of the shaft is circumferentially offset from the second tineassembly at the second end of the shaft by 180°.
 3. The cultivator ofclaim 1 wherein: the first mounting means includes a first adapterhaving a body with an axial opening, a planar first surface, an oppositeplanar second surface, and an axial flange extending from the firstsurface through the central bore of the first tine member; and, a secondadapter having a body with an axial opening, a planar first surface, anopposite planar second surface, an axial flange extending from the firstsurface through the central bore of the second tine member, and an axialspacer extending from the second surface through the axial opening ofthe first adapter; and, the second mounting means includes a thirdadapter having a body with an axial opening, a planar first surface, anopposite planar second surface, an axial flange extending from the firstsurface through the central bore of the third tine member, and an axialspacer extending from the second surface; and, a fourth adapter having abody with an axial opening, a planar first surface, an opposite planarsecond surface, and, an axial flange extending from the first surfacethrough the central bore of the fourth tine member, wherein the axialspacer of the third adapter extends through the axial opening of thefourth adapter.
 4. The cultivator of claim 3 wherein: at least one ofsaid first adapter, second adapter, third adapter, or fourth adapter isadapted to allow ease of removal of at least one of said tine members.5. The cultivator of claim 4 wherein: said cultivator is adapted tooperate with one, two, three, or four of said tine members.
 6. Thecultivator of claim 3 wherein the body of the first adapter is generallytriangular and the body of the second adapter is generally triangularand wherein the apices of the triangular body of the first adapter areoffset from the apices of the triangular body of the second adapter byapproximately 60°, and wherein the body of the third adapter isgenerally triangular and the body of the fourth adapter is generallytriangular and wherein the apices of the triangular body of the thirdadapter are offset from the apices of the triangular body of the fourthadapter by approximately 60°.
 7. The cultivator of claim 1 wherein thefirst tine member includes at least two first tines that arecircumferentially offset by approximately 180° and wherein the pluralityof tines further includes at least two second tines each having agenerally planar shank portion lying in plane P and a bent end portion.8. The cultivator of claim 7 wherein the first tine is bent at a firstangle, α₁, relative to plane P, and the other first tine is bent at asubstantially equal and opposite angle, α₂, relative to plane P andwherein the second tine is bent at an angle, β₁, relative to plane P,and the end portion of the other second tine is bent at a substantiallyequal and opposite angle, β₂, relative to plane P.
 9. The cultivator ofclaim 8 wherein the tip of one of the second tines is circumferentiallyoffset by substantially 90° relative to the tip of one of the firsttines.
 10. The cultivator of claim 8 wherein angle α₁ is between 5° and15°, and wherein angle β₁ is between 45° and 60°.
 11. The cultivator ofclaim 1 wherein said third tine member is rotated substantially 120°with respect to said first tine member and said fourth tine member isrotated substantially 120° with respect to said second tine member.